Man shot as duck shooting starts 

The duck shooting season is off to a bad start with a hunter shot in the face at his Waikato mai mai.

Police are investigating whether the man was hit by accident or deliberately targeted and they have warned other hunters to take special care.

The man was shot in front of his mai mai at Patterson lagoon.

Nigel Airey and his son Josh heard a barrage of shots but thought nothing of it until they heard sirens and saw the man who had fired the shots take off.

"A guy started there this morning and then wondered off quite early which was a little bit strange, usually you're here for a few hours," says Nigel.

The victim escaped with only minor injuries.

Police are still trying to piece together exactly what happened but they say getting the right location is a competitive business.

Kristine Clarke from Morrinsville police says a mai mai may not look like much but is prime real estate during duck hunting season.

"We think what has happened is someone has gone and set up right in the middle of the lagoon...far too close to his neighbouring mai mai and that's prompted a territorial dispute," she says.

Airey says people are always wanting to push in on the better pieces of water.

Police say they have no description of the shooter and are issuing a general reminder that mai mais are supposed to be 90 metres apart.

"The proximity of the various mai mais around the lagoon makes it a situation where somebody could get caught in the cross-fire," says Clarke.

Police say they will be contacting Fish and Game who issue the permits and some mai mais may be closed down.